We have a pond in our backyard, and the sunrises are always beautiful. I have folder after folder of sunrise photos on my computer—some of them blue, some pink, some orange, yellow, and red. The sky will always be one of my favorite subjects.

You’d think the fact that the sky has such inherent drama—the textural clouds, the natural color gradients, the colors—would eliminate the need for much post-processing. But in fact, that just makes the Photoshopping even more fun.

It’s an illness, is what it is.

Note: While I wouldn’t call this tutorial necessarily “Advanced”, it does pack in a little more information than the average post. Go chug some Ginseng extract and come right back.

Here was the original photo I snapped the other morning. I thought it was pretty enough—the sky, not my photography—but I wanted to experiment.

The first thing I wanted to do was created a duplicate layer and experiment with the different color blends—we’ve talked about them before. I messed around with “Soft Light”, and “Luminosity”…but it was “Linear Burn” that made my heart go pitter-pat.

Here’s what it looked like with the “Linear Burn” color blend applied to the duplicate layer. The colors are pretty, but the color blend effect drastically darkened much of the photo.

I’m gonna fix that.

Select the duplicate layer (and you’ll notice the Linear Blend blend mode above), then click on the Layer Mask icon at the bottom of the layers palette.

Layer Masks are my life. To read more about them, click here. They’re absolutely vital to my Photoshop workflow.

“Photoshop workflow.” That made me feel really smart, even though I’m not.

So basically, a Layer Mask allows you to “erase” (though you’re not really erasing) areas of a layer. In this case, I want to “erase” the portions of the Linear Burn layer that are causing the dark areas to be so dark, and allow the background layer (i.e. the original photo) to show through.

The beautiful thing about Layer Masks is, if you “erase” too much, you can just paint the erased parts right back on and you’re fine. If you use the eraser tool, on the other hand, once you’ve erased it…it’s gone and you can’t get it back later.

Once I add a Layer Mask to the Linear Burn layer, I need to select the Brush Tool. I almost always choose a soft-edge brush so the effect won’t have harsh edges.

So what I’ve done here is leave the vivid sunrise that the Linear Burn helped create, but brought back the original color (and brightness) of the outer parts of the photo. So I get the best of both worlds here.

Here’s the original.

And here it is now, with the orange/red parts being enhanced by applying the Linear Burn blend mode.

Now, just for fun I thought it would be groovy to add a vibrant orange cast to the photo.

The first thing I need to do is choose the color of orange I want to use, and change the foreground color to that orange color. So I clicked on the white square over on the left to bring up the color picker for the foreground color. Then I used the eyedropper to click on an area of the orange in the photo that I wanted to sample. The color of orange came up, and the foreground color was changed.

Next, I selected the background layer (original photo), because I want to stick a solid layer of orange between the top layer (Linear Burn) and the background layer. If I want to create a new layer and want it to be inserted in between specific layers, I just select the layer I want to go under the new layer. Then I create the new layer and it’s automatically inserted just above it.

I realize this makes zero sense.

But bear with me. In no time at all, it’s going to make LESS than zero sense.

With the background layer selected, pull up the menu in the Layers palette and select “Solid Color.”

And look! A layer of vibrant orange has been added. Now, I realize it’s confusing, but the reason the upper and lower portion of the photo are solid orange is that those areas in the Linear Burn layer were “erased” and are allowing the solid orange layer below it to show through.

And there we have it—a beautiful sunset! Now go do the same to your photos!

Just kidding. But dang, I love doing that.

We need to change the blend mode of this solid orange layer to “Color”, which will make the color sort of meld and “become one” with the image, rather than just lay on top of it.

I don’t know how it works…it just works. It simply tints the photo, rather than paints it.

Or something.

I love the “Color” blend mode.

I mean, I really love the “Color” blend mode.

Would you like to see why?

Are you sure?

Whoa! That is one orange-tinted photo. But isn’t it kinda cool in a surreal, Mars-has-fallen-on-Earth sort of way?

I should have tried green, too.

But wait….I can!

And there you have it…a beautiful, natural sunrise.

Have a wonderful day!

Sorry.

Back to the orange. I need to make it look just a tiny bit more realistic, though, so I decreased the opacity of the orange layer to 75%.

Here it is with decreased opacity. It’s still orange, but it isn’t…ORANGE.

The next thing I did was apply a layer mask to the orange layer, and “erase” (though remember, it’s not really erasing) the orange out of the upper part of the sky. It’s the sunrise, after all, that has the red and orange hues. This’ll just help it look a little more realistic.

You’ll notice up above that I reduced the brush’s opacity to around 50%. This will make the “erasing” effect no so harsh.

Next, I decided to run the brush over the pond, just to get rid of the strong orange color. I wanted it to have a hint of orange reflection…but not be over the top. I’m moving the brush from right to left here; do you see how the right side of the pond has more of a natural shade now?

Here’s where we are now:

Here’s what it looked like just after I added the orange layer…

And here it is after we added in the natural color at the top of the photo and on the pond.

At the end, I just lightened and sharpened a little and called it a day. My dog was licking my toes, my kids were taking apart the vacuum cleaner, and the Orkin man was knocking on my door.

There comes a point when you have to step away from the Photoshop.

Here’s Before.

Here’s After. Honestly, I like them both. I love the blues in the original. But for drama, for emotion, for fun, sometimes it’s fun to change things up a bit.

That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!

___________________________

Here are some related posts, if you’d like to brush up on your Photoshop knowledge:

cate s On Monday, January 26 at 7:16 am

Ronda On Monday, January 26 at 7:16 am

Love these. Keep trying to get hubby to let me do a wall in our TV room with wallpaper, 1970s style, but he just looks at me weird. I think one of these pics or one like it would look sooooo cool as a wall paper.

There’s an idea, convert one of your pics into wallpaper for that wall you’re looking to decorate. You can always change it later.

Lindsay On Monday, January 26 at 7:22 am

My comment’s MIA. But quickly: I love these nature shots of yours Ree. I think these would look so cool as a wallpaper, 1970s & 1980s style. A modern version of that forest scene in the middle of our living rooms – who’s up for it? I want a wall like that but hubby’s not having it. I know, it’s corny. But so am I.

Jenny On Monday, January 26 at 7:32 am

heidig On Monday, January 26 at 7:36 am

It’s way too early to understand and remember these steps. Excuse me while I go after my 5th cup of coffee and try to then grasp all of this. I’m a PS fan and sunset/sunrise photo junkie too so this will be fun to try.

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Amber On Monday, January 26 at 7:37 am

Amazing! Thank you so much for posting this… I wondered when you first posted that picture if the sky was really that vibrant or if you had done your magic! I can’t wait to try your magic on some of my sunset/sunrise photos!

My main computer is down & I’ve temporarily lost Photoshop as my old computer doesn’t have it. Although I am no where near changing ponds to flaming orange, I likened publishing pics on my blog without Photoshop to going to town without make-up. My old MS program just doesn’t do the trick. I’m still on Elements… baby steps, but having a lot of fun learning.

23

Teslaca On Monday, January 26 at 7:51 am

Thanks for the detailed tutorial. You make learning fun!

24

Cynthia On Monday, January 26 at 7:57 am

Very fun! I can’t wait to try all of this stuff. My daughter’s favorite color is orange.

25

Rosemary On Monday, January 26 at 7:57 am

My husband just got me photoshop elements 7 for Christmas….gave it to me late January, but hey, I’m happy! Haven’t learned how to do much yet, but am waiting for some time to go through your posts and see if they make any sense to me. I’m slow. Anyway, thanks for posting these!

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Keli C. On Monday, January 26 at 8:03 am

Kinda reminds me of Lord of the rings.. where they said that the sunrise being red meant there was blood spilled that night! Very pretty photo!

Misha On Monday, January 26 at 8:34 am

I done learnt layer masks from you! Although the post was last summer, I used the Brandi wedding post to blur the background of a photo – this December.

Then your own Kay of Kayotic Kitchen (cooking) recommended Matt Kloskowski’s book on layers which I bought and will re-recommend. Lot’s of examples, step by step of this kind of thing.

Layer masks are wonderful! – a trick I did just yesterday… adjust one copy of a photo for sky exposure, another for snow, put them together and “paint out” sky or snow…and voila, a photo with perfectly exposed sky AND snow – hard to do “in camera”.

Thanks for this post and more ideas!

40

Cathy in MN On Monday, January 26 at 9:03 am

blahblahblahhamsterblahblahblah… LOL, one of these days I need to get that program so I can play as I read. Your instructions are wonderful. I just love looking at the pics for now.

41

miss lila On Monday, January 26 at 9:04 am

Ree,
Thank you for the help. It’s hard teaching this old dog some new tricks. LOL

I don’t know how I ever lived without photoshop before! All I do is eat, sleep, and breath photoshop! Okay that’s an exaggeration but it’s pretty darn close. I love coming to this website and seeing all of the wonderful images being cooked up! I am never left disappointed. Thanks for making my day yet again!

Ah-ha! I wondered. Thanks for explaining this before I decided to drive south at 4:00 in the morning trying to figure out where the sky changed so dramatically. 4:00 is not that early for me, but 4:00 and cold and the disappointment of not finding that sunrise might have made me a little grumpy. Just to your north here in Kansas, we do get a lot of very dramatic sunsets without any help from Photoshop, but they are never quite that vivid. Though I’m up before the sun every day, I rarely get to see the sunrise in full force because of all the trees to our east. To our west we have wide open spaces for a ways, so sunsets are always the best for me to catch when I’m at home.

45

Shawna On Monday, January 26 at 9:23 am

I think I prefer the SOOC one. The picture with Photoshop looks a little apocalyptic to me!

Rhonda in Oklahoma On Monday, January 26 at 9:38 am

Oh, man, that green sunrise was …. words fail me. LOL

This was very interesting! The original photo was nice, too. But I would’ve believed the “orange” was a natural picture, as I’ve seen some sunrises/sunsets actually be that orange! That was interesting when I realized that you had photoshopped it.

You have a BEAUTIFUL morning view. Thanks for sharing it with us.

49

Megan On Monday, January 26 at 9:44 am

I’m normally afraid of PS with all of its power, but your explanations make it seem like an innocent kitten! Great job with the photos and directions.

I wish there was a PS for real life to cover up the fact that I’m wearing ratty jeans and my roots need touching up. Is that wrong of me?

I tried out PS Elements this summer and just couldn’t get the hang of it. I read all of your tips and even went out and bought a book and I swane that I still didn’t get it. I am just PS challenged. I think I need to take a class where they break it down Barney style or sumin. I refuse to invest $500 for a program that I’m too stupid to figure out.

I have however done really well with a box of crayons it’s just a mess to clean off my computer screen.

I absolutely love this picture< I love pictures of the sky, I get alot of good photos from my front porch. I don’t have photoshop or a lens camera so mine can’t even hold a candle to yours. I just point and shoot. I hope to get one of the cameras you suggested soon. CAUSE I LOVE TAKING PICTURES!!!!!! ANd I live in the countrt too on a cattle ranch so I think we deffinitely have an advantage to capturing beautiful photos. Meganhttp://www.happyheiferhouse.blogspot.com

Stephanie On Monday, January 26 at 10:08 am

Those are awesome! And although I only have elements, your tinkering has really inspired me to just play around with elements – and I’ve found more goodies in the last month! Thanks so much for all the before and afters – it’s really awesome to see what you’ve done.

Fun! I love tutorials! I collect them, in fact. Then every once in a while I go back over them and it’s like learning something new all the time. Guess this shows just how forgetful I am, huh? Thanks for the tut…now I’m gonna go play with it!

And I totally believed that the photo at the very top was what you saw through the camera’s eye. I feel like such a fool, especially since my brother and I turned a shot he took of a sailing ship at anchor in the Keys into one cloaked in bluegreen fire.

MariaT On Monday, January 26 at 10:31 am

I agree that layer masks are a great tool…but gotta say I MUCH prefer the original. Just personal taste, I suppose.

66

Cal Gal On Monday, January 26 at 10:39 am

I would have been thrilled to take the picture of the undoctored sunset and call it a day.
You have lots of time on your hands, lady. What have you been neglecting? Laundry? Kids? Dental appointments for the family?

67

Tammy On Monday, January 26 at 10:40 am

You made my head hurt….I need a nap already!

68

kelly On Monday, January 26 at 10:43 am

Can’t find the ginsing, but found the gin…….all of my pictures look blurry…..hmmmm

69

Sherrie Graham-Busse On Monday, January 26 at 10:49 am

Very interesting how all this works….but really, I love your original photo best, although orange has an interesting style all of its own!

70

farm girl On Monday, January 26 at 10:53 am

It took me about six years of working in Photoshop and who knows how many classes before I actually understood layer masks. And hoo boy, do I understand the layer mask love!!

While the picture turned out absolutely beautiful, I can’t help but be a tiny bit disappointed to find out that the spectacular sunrise you posted yesterday wasn’t quite as spectacular as the photo portrayed.

OMG – my eyes are glazed over. Maybe I’m in way over my head! I need to take a hands on class I think. You do a great job of explaining. I totally appreciate the tutorials and the specific instructions. Thanks!

73

Emma in Ft. Worth On Monday, January 26 at 11:00 am

Ree – THANKs for “fessing up” that the glowing orange sunrise was PShopped… The Original is REALLY nice – but now it lowers my Jealously level a wee bit to know that you didn’t REALLY have that glowing orange sunrise.
Thanks for ALL your tutorials …and sharing that Charlie licks your toes

74

MarilynD On Monday, January 26 at 11:01 am

Thanks for sharing. I haven’t tried the solid color layer and the color blend mode, but I will now!! Lots of possibilities – that’s what I love about PS

75

James On Monday, January 26 at 11:07 am

I like that you shared. It makes me want photo shop but in this case I really still like the “before” best.

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Erasue On Monday, January 26 at 11:11 am

Julie in WA On Monday, January 26 at 11:14 am

Hey, Ree,

You sure have a lot of fun with those pictures. The green sort of freaked me out… And I have given up actually reading the photo posts, as I don’t have photoshop and probably never will. (I prefer quilting.) Your photos are amazing, none the less!

PS I don’t know if you mess with textures much, but I’ve always wondered how people apply textures without it covering people’s faces in the picture…maybe layer masks are the answer!! (Yep, the light bulb is going off above my head).